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Ohio State's Jeff Okudah breaks up a pass against Clemson's Justyn Ross in the third quarter of the College Football Playoff semifinal Fiesta Bowl against Clemson on Dec. 28, 2019 in Glendale, Ariz. Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports

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Hafley spoke with confidence as he provided feedback. A former defensive backs coach in the NFL, he had tutored All-Pro cornerbacks that included Darrelle Revis and Richard Sherman. He told Okudah he'd improve.

The Ohio State cornerback believed him.

"I just listened to him talk," Okudah said last fall, recalling their first meeting. "When you play football long enough, you're around guys where you know if they know what they're talking about. I knew after that conversation that he knew exactly what he was talking about."

Okudah ultimately shined as a junior, paving the way for him to become the No. 3 overall pick by the Detroit Lions in the 2020 NFL draft Thursday. In the lead-up to the draft, Okudah has been quick to credit Hafley, who arrived at a critical time in his development before leaving to become the coach at Boston College.

Okudah noted Hafley helped him with his technique and footwork during their season together and furthered his understanding of receivers' route concepts.

The improvement came as Hafley put in a cover 3 defense, that included a zone scheme. The Buckeyes had relied almost entirely on man-to-man on defenses that were implemented during former coach Urban Meyer's tenure.

"Man-to-man is just more so follow your guy around and don't let him catch the ball," Okudah said. "Zone is put your eyes on the quarterback and make plays on the football."

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 30: Jeff Okudah #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates a fourth down strop during the fourth quarter of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ohio State defeated Michigan 56-27. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

At the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis in February, he remarked, "Without Coach Hafley, I might not be in this position I am right now."

Prior to last season, Okudah had not been a full-time starter, largely a rotational cornerback. He had no interceptions through his sophomore season.

But with tightened fundamentals and seizing a larger role in the secondary, the former blue-chip recruit developed into a unanimous All-American. He intercepted three passes and broke up nine more. While targeted 53 times, he gave up only 23 completions (43.4 percent) and one touchdown, according to Pro Football Focus.

NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah considers Okudah to be one of the best prospects in the draft and has projected him to be the third player picked Thursday, noting his size, athleticism and playmaking instincts.

"I always say with corners, if you can't find the ball in college, most times those guys can't find the ball in the NFL," Jeremiah said. "This kid can find and play the football. He's got really good awareness."

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Detroit Lions drafted Ohio State junior Jeff Okudah, a cornerback from Grand Prairie, Texas. Here's what you should know about the newest Lion.
Wochit

The emergence of Okudah was not a surprise for Ohio State's coaching staff.

A native of Grand Prairie, Texas, after moving from New Jersey in elementary school, Okudah was the second-highest-ranked prospect in the program's acclaimed 2017 recruiting class, considered a five-star recruit, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. Only defensive end Chase Young, who went second overall to Washington, was ranked higher among the incoming Buckeyes.

The timing had been right for a breakout.

"I think a lot of guys make that leap from year 2 to year 3," Buckeyes coach Ryan Day said. "You see it a lot. It's with leadership. It's with his approach. It's with a lot of things. I think it just all came together for (Okudah). Having Jeff Hafley, they really hit it off. His approach. Being three years into the program. All those things, just kind of added up for him."

As he moves toward the NFL, with the hope of becoming one of the league's top cover corners, Okudah's hope is that things will keep coming together.